Soleimani, the commander of foreign operations for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, is one of several Iranian officials targeted by a 2007 UN travel ban because of their alleged links to Iran's nuclear or ballistic-missile programs.

Despite a July 14 deal by Iran and world powers on its nuclear program, the sanctions against Soleimani remain in effect.

Soleimani has also reportedly been sighted visiting Iranian-backed Shi'ite militia forces in Iraq.